Closet.



A. McGARY @L J. P. SUNDERLAND.

CLOSET.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24. l9|3.

1,276,784. Patented Aug. 27, 19m

HUH/VE 8 v of this speci cation.

v UNITED STATES PATENT oEEroE.

ALEXANDER MUGAJRY AND JOHN P. SUNDERLAND, F NEW YORK, N.\Y., ASSIGNOIRS, BY.' MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO GOULD COU13T-|1311. COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

CLOSET.

Original application led August 4, 1913,

heating or burning the excreta. Further obfjects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from the detailed description given below, taken in connection with the accompanyin drawings which form part This application is a division of our application, Serial No. 782,781, filed August 4, 1913, for improvements in' closets. A

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical section of a closet embodying my improvements in one form. A

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. y

Fig. 3 isa front view thereof, partly in section, and l Fig. 4 is a diagram of the electrical circuit connections.

Referring to the various figures, l represents a suitable body portion provided with a hinged seat 2 and a hinged cover 4 adapted to cover the seat 2, and provided-with a rubber band 3 on its lower edge for making a tight lfit on the top of the body portion 1. 5 and 6 represent substantially vertically arranged electrodes of an electric arc4 situated below but atone side of the seat 2 and provided with the usual or suitable electrical regulating apparatus 7.

Metallic aluminum powder mixed with iron oxid in the proportions of three parts of aluminum to lone of iron oxid may be placed Iin the positive carbon electrode as a core in order to.A intensify the heat produced by the arc.- l

Tuangly mount/ed Within the body por."

J tion and below the seat 2, is a pan 8 mounted on a shaft 9. The shaft 9 has rigidly secured theretov a gear `10 engaged by a rack 11l on the end of a lever 12 pivoted at 13, and being engaged byabutments 14 secured Specification of Letters Patent.

` the outlet 19 by gravity.

24 adapted to permit the trap to overli Patented Aug. 27, 1918.

to a spindle 15 .normally pressed upwardly'vv by a spring 16 to engage the under side of the seat 2.

17 represents a separate passa e for the urine leading to the trapI 18. layer of liquid disinfectant 62 is prefera'bly placed on top of the urine in the trap. The trap 18 is rovidedt with an outlet pipe 19 adapted to e closed by 4a v-alve 20. The closet is especially designed to -be ,used .on moving vehicles, especially railroad cars, and in such cars or vehicles as are provided with an electric generator driven bythe movement of the train, valve 20'may be regulated thereby. 21 represents such a generator driven by the movement of the train, and 22 a magnet energizedthereby. The magnet 22 when energized is adapted to raise the valve 20 and thus open the outlet 19. When the vehicle stops the generator fails to furnish energy, and consequently the valve 20 closes 23 represents a handle by which the valve 2O maybe opened by hand if desired.

Extending down into the trap 18 nearly to the bottom thereof, is an overfiow pipe ow when the same has become substantially full. Pipe 24 is. U-shaped and is proNided with a vent 25 at the top thereof to prevent siphontrap door 26, operated by the handle 29, is provided below the arc device comprising the electrodes 5 and 6', which is adapted to dischar e any material not burned into the chute 2 A Vent pipe 28 leads from the apparatus just above the arc device so that any obnoxious vapors are carried away from the closet. j y v On the end of the shaft 9 is loosely mounted a commutator or rotary switch 30 engaged by spring contacts31. The commutator is fixed to a ratchet 32 adapted to be intermittently rotated by a pawl 33 pivoted to an arm 34 fixed to the shaft 9. The pawl 35 prevents backward rotation of the ratchet and commutator.

Normally the space in which are placed the arc devices 5 and 6 is closed to the closet by the pan 8 which closely engages the body portion, as shown in Fig. 1. When the seat is` occupied the spindle 15 is de`v Serial No. 782,781. Divided and this application filed November 24, Y

1913. Serial No. 802,638.

pressed, thereby moving the lever 12 so that over the ratchet teeth during this movement.

However, upon one leaving the seat, allowing the spring 16 to raise the same, the commutator 1s given a quarter revolution, causing a momentary electrical connection between the contacts 31 so as to close an electrical circuit from mains 35 and 36 for the purpose of energizing the arc device. This circuit may be traced as follows (see Fig. 4): from main 35, conductor 37, contacts 31, conductor 38, solenoid 39, conductor 40, and conductor- 41 back to main 36. The solenoid 39 operates the pivoted lever 42, which acts to close the electrical contacts 43, the lower Contact 43 being adapted to be depressed against the action of the spring 63. The closing of the contacts 43 energizes a solenoid 44, the circuit being as follows: from main 35, conductor 45', conductor46, contact 43, conductor 47, solenoid 44, conductor 48, and conductor' 41 back to the other main 36. The energizing of the solenoid 44 operates a switch 49 which connects the electrodes 5 and 6 in circuit to produce the arc, the circuit being-as follows: from main 35', conductor 45, conductor 50, switch 49, the arc device, conductor 51, and conductor 41 back to-the opposite main 36.

Connected with the core of the solenoid 39 is a dashpot 52 having a vent hole'53 in the top thereof, and a piston 54 operating in the dashpot, the piston being provided with a one-way valve 55 in the bottom thereof to permit the air to be easily exhausted or pushed out ofthe dashpot, but to prevent air from entering the dashpot except through the vent 53. Accordingly when the solenoid 39 is energized the piston 54 is quickly raised in the dashpot, excluding air therefrom, and at the same time the contacts 43 are closed and thelower contact 43 considerably depressed. Upon the breaking of fthe circuit through the solenoid 39 at the contacts 31, the piston 54 gradually drops by gravity so that after a predetermined interval of time the contacts 43 are separated and the circuit through the solenoid 44 broken so that the current through the heating device is turned off. r

Accordingly when the seat is occupied the pan 8 is given a quarter revolution to an upright position. Upon one leaving thek seat, permitting the same to rise, the pan is given a quarter revolution in the opposite direction t the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, whereupon its contents is discharged into the heater. At the same time the pawl 33 rotates the commutator a quarter revolution, thus momentarily electrically closing the contacts 31 toturn the current through then heating device and generate an arc as above described. After a predetermined interval of time has elapsed, measured by the drop of the piston by gravity in the dashpot 52, the circuit thg'ough the heater is automatically opened. This interval of time may be so adjusted that the circuit will bc opened after all the excreta has been practically consumed. l

In case liquid matter should be deposited in the closet without a depression of the seat, the same will liow into the bowl-shaped portion 60, from which it will run into the urine passage 17 by means of one or more small passages 61.

Although we have described our improvements in great detail and in respect to one particular embodiment thereof, nevertheless we do not desire to be limited to such details except as clearly set out in the appended claims, since many changes and modificationsmay well be made without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention in its broader aspects. /'v

Having fully and clearly described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination of a closet seat, a heater, a pan beneath the seat adapted to tilt to and normally remain in a position to discharge excreta into the heater, and means for automatically throwing the pan to operative position upon' a depression of said seat.

2. The combination of a closet seat, a tilting pan beneath said seat adapted to receive and discharge excreta, said pan being arranged to remain normally in a position to discharge, an electric heater directly below the pan for receiving the excreta therefrom and means for automaticallytilting said pan to receive the excreta when the seat is occupied.

3. The combination of a closet seat, a tilting pan beneath said seat adapted to receive -and discharge excreta, said pan being .ar-

ranged to remain'normally in a position to discharge, an electric heater directly below the pan for receiving the excreta therefrom, and means automatically tilting said pan to discharge 'the same vupon one leaving the seat.

4. The combination of a closet seat adapted to be depressed, a pan therebeneath adapted to receive the excreta, an electric heater directly below the pan for receiving the excreta therefrom, .and means,I for tilting said pan to and normally holding it in a position to discharge the same upon a rise in said seat. p 5. The combination of a closet seat, a tiltingpan beneath said seat adapted to receive and ,discharge excreta, an electric heater in operative relation to said pan, and means automatically tilting said pan to and normally holding it in a position to discharge.

. electric heatin the same into the heater upon one leaving the seat.

6. The combination of a closet seat adapted to be depressed, a pan therebeneath adapted to receive the excreta, heater directly below the pan for receiving the excreta therefrom, said pan being normally positioned to discharge excreta on to said heater, and means for tilting said pan to eXcreta-receiving.positionupon a depression of said seat. c

7 The combination ofa closet seat, a pan therebeneath adapted to receive excreta,V

means for heating the excreta, and means for giving said pan substantially a quarter revolution to discharge the excreta to the heating means'l and simultaneously turning on said heating means. l

8. The combination of a closet seat and an electric heating device in operative relation therewith for heating the eXcreta, said device being situated below but at one si e of the seat and energized when the seat is vacated.

9. The combination of a closet seat and an electric heating device. in operative relation therewith for heating the eXcreta, and a tilting pan below the seat adapted to receive the eXcreta and discharge the same to the heating device, said electric heating de` vice being situatedfbelow but at one side of the seat and adapted to be automatically energized upon the seat being vacated.

y10. In 'a device of the class-described, an electrical heater` for receivin and heating excreta, means for automatica ly turning on the current to 'said heater after the eXcrcta has been received thereby, and means for automatically turning ofi' the current of said heater after a predetermined interval of time.

11. In a device of the class described, a

" closet seat, an. electrical heater f r receiving and heating excreta', means f r automatically turning on the lcurrent to said heater vupon Aone leaving the seat, and means for automatically turning olf the current to said heaterafter a predeterminedinterval of time.

12. In` a device of the class described, an electrical heater for receiving and heating eXcreta, means for automatically turning on the current to said heater after the eXcreta has been received thereby, and means for automatically turning off said 'heater after a predetermined interval of time, said last mentioned means embracing a dashpotlfor measuring said interval of time.

18.- In a device of the 'class described, a closet seat, an electrical heater for receiving and heating excreta,

cally turning en the current to said heater upon one leaving the seat, and means for automatically' turning oli' the current to an electricV lower wall whereby the current of means for automatisaid heater after a predetermined interval of time, said last mentioned means embracing a switch and a dashpot controlling the opening of said switch.

14. In a device of the class described, a closet seat, an electric heater for receiving and'heating eXcreta, a circuit for energizing said heater, said circuit comprising a timecontrolled switch, and a circuit operating to set said time-controlled switch and energized upon one leaving the seat.

15. In a device of the class described, a

closet seat, an electric heater for receiving `and heating e'xcreta, a circuit for energizing said heater, said circuit comprising a timecontrolled switch, a circuit operating to set said time-controlled switch and energized upon one leaving the seat,`a pan below said seat, means to revolve said pan upon one leavin said seat, and a switch in said last name the pan. e

16. In a device of the class described,` a closet seat, an electric heater for receiving and heating excreta, a circuit for energizing said heater including a switch, a circuit for operating said' switch, a time-controlled circuit operated by the revolving of .p

switch in said lastnamed circuit, and a ciry cuit for operating said last named switch and energized upon one leaving the seat.

17. In a hollow bowl having openings in the top and side, and a hopper mounted within said bowl to swin to a position to cover either opening, sai bowl having a drain opening in its i iquid poured thereinto while the hopper covers will be discharged.

18. In a device of the class described a hollow bowl having openings in the top and side and a urine passage leading froma point vwithin the thereof out of the bottom of the bowl, and a hopper mounted inl said bowl to swing to a position to close the downward passage through the bowl without closing the upper oplening of the urine passage, or to close t e opening in the side, said bowl having a passage through its lower wall to said urine passage.

19. In a device of the classdescribed a hollow bowl lhaving, openings in the top and side and a urine passage leadin from a point within the bowl and below t e top thereof out of the bottom of the bowl, a hopper mounted in said bowl to swing to a osition to close the downward passage device of the class described, a

the side opening,

bowl and below the' top through the bowl without closing the upper opening of. the urine passage, or to close the 'opening in the side, said bowl hav-` lhopper mounted in said lbowl side and a urine passage leading from a point withinkthe bowl and below the top thereof out of the bottom of the bowl, a to swing to a position to close the downward passage through the bowl without closing the upper opening of the urine passage, or to close the opening in the side, said bowl having 3f. passage through its lower wall -to said urine 10 passage, an nclneratmg devlce in operatlve 

